Automatic safety switch-lock.



P. ANDERSON.

I AUTOMATIC SAFETY SWITCH LOOK. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1912. 1,048,122, Patented Dec. 24, 1912.

F. O. ANDERSON. AUTOMATIC SAFETY SWITCH LOCK.

APPLIGATION FILED m. a, 1912.

1,048,122. Patented Dec.24, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITE s ATEs PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. ANDERSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN VALVE & METER COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION)OF OHIO.

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Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 8, 1912. srialno. 669,988. 7

P a-tented Dec. 24, 1912.

( To all it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK C. ANDERSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and 5 State of Ghio,vhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic in .is a specification. Y v

y invention relates to means to belused in connection with. a switch stand for automatically flockingv the switch points of a Safety Switch-Locks, of which the follow- I railway independently of the switch stand.

The object of my'invention' is to provide simple, economical and convenient means for automatically locking railway switch points in :closed position when operated by a switch stand of the weighted 'ground'lever automatic type, and to prevent the locking of said switch stand unless the switch is properly closed, as well as 'to provide easy and convenient means to unlock the same to open the switch.

Another object of my invention isto provide a simple, economical and convenient device for automatically locking a, railway switch when operated by switch" stands of the high or skeleton type as well asealsy and convenient means for releasing/or unlocking the same when the switch 1s tobe 0 thrown to open position.

vide a simple andeconomicalidevice for antomatically locking the. switchwhich will holdthe switch points in locked position in 5 case the switch stand should become disengaged from the switch points or damaged or destroyed under traflic.

, Another object of my invention is'to provide means in connection with certain forms of switch stands to insure the properc'losing of the switch points against the stock rails before the switch can be' locked in closed position.

My invention comprises a recessed interlocking bar, a slotted dog adapted-to. engage said interlocking bar, a spring adapted to automatically actuate said dog to automati-' cally Iock said bar, a foot bearing trip by which said dog is operated'to' release the 5 interlocking bar and a housing. within a which said -members are mounted .-and protected.

My invention-also comprises a foot bearing member having an arm adapted to en- 5 gage the ordinary foot latch of the ground Another object of my invention is to pro-? and recessed interlocking weighted lever type of switch stand whereby said latch is operated simultaneously with the releasing or unlocking of my automatic safety switch lock and whereby the latch is held out of engagement with the op-' erating lever of the switch stand while the switch is in open position, thus preventing the locking of the switch stand until the switch is properly closed and interlocked.

My invention also consists in the peculiar construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as herein set forth and claimed. 1

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the construction, appli cation and use of my invention: Figure. 1- is a perspective view of an ordinary ground weighted lever switch stand of the automatic type showing my invention applied thereto, the switch points being held lockedin closed position by means of the switch stand connecting rod and the interlocking bar of my automatic safety .switch lock; Fig. 2 is a-transverse vertical section of my invention taken on a linev corresponding to line 22 of Fig; 4; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my device; Fig. 4 is a plan view switch stand latch as shown in Fig. 1 with the throwing lever in section; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a switch stand of the skeleton type showing. my invention applied in connection therewith; Fig. 9 is a view of my invention partly in vvertical section and partly in side elevation; Fig. 10 is 'a' side elevation of-the dog; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lower housing which'is adapted to-receivle) the {slotted dog ar. Constructed as illustrated, 1 represents a switch stand of the ground weighted lever type suitably mounted upon head blocks 2 and secured to the switch points 3 by means of a connecting rod 4. The operating lever 5 engages the latch 6 in the usual manner when the switch is in closed position. My automatic safety switch lock which is used in connection with the ing'7 and lower housing 8 each secured to a.v steel plate 9 which is rigidly mounted upon .of same; Fig.6 shows the recessed end of the interlocking bar; Fig. 6 is a side elevaswitch stand 1 is mounted in an upper housvi'ded with a transverse slot which -re- I adapted to engage the dog at either end of the slot 14 therein for locking said interlocking bar. The dog 13 extends upwardly through an opening 16 in the steel plate 9 and through an opening 17 in the upper housing 7. Its upper end is provided with a shoulder 18 upon which is mounted a cupshaped cap or foot bearing trip 19 having vertical lugs 20 projecting inwardly and 2 adapted to engage lugs 21 projecting laterally from said upper housing 7 for the purpose of guiding said' foot bearing trip and preventing it from turning and becoming disengaged from the dog 13. Said foot 2 bearing trip being cup-shaped and fitting over the top of said housing protects the interior mechanism of my device from being tampered. with or becoming damaged or rendered inoperative by the weather.

A spiral spring 22 is mounted upon the stem of the dog 13 within the .upper housing 7, its lower end resting upon an angular or flanged washer 23 which is supported by the steel plate 9 and its upper end. bearing against washer 24'which engages pin 25 extending transversely through the stemof the dog 13, forming a bearing to compress the spring and also to return the dog to its upper position after being depressed.

The operation of my device is as follows Fig. 9 shows the interlocking bar held in' locked position by means of the dog and spring. To operate my safety device for the purpose of releasing theinterlocking bar 11, to permit the switch to be thrown to open position by means of the switch stand all that isnecessary is for. the operator to place his foot upon the foot bearing trip 19 and press downwardly until the lower end of the dog is out of recess 15. This will permit the interlocking bar 11 to move endwise when the switch stand is operated to throw the switch to open position. It is necessary 5 19 until the switch points3 have moved. far enough to permit the non-recessed portion of the bar to enter slot 14 of the dog 13 when said bar will hold the dog in its lowermost position while the switch is in open position. In closing the switch all that is necessary is to throw the switch in theusual manner .and if the switch is properly closed the recess 15 of the interlocking bar 11 will be automatically engaged by the dog 13 which will hold the bar in locked position. The reto keep the foot upon the foot bearing trip broken or the switch stand and upper housing of my device should be damaged or destroyed accidentally under trafiic. My ob- Ject 1s under such circumstances to permlt the dog 13 to drop by gravity into engagement with said recess 15 thereby holding the switch'in locked position. If the switch stand should be damaged or destroyed by accidentunder, trafiic including the upper. portion "of the safety device not" rotected by the steel plate it is possible for t e lower end of the dog to drop by gravity and secure the switch in locked position by the upper re- 30 cess 15' in the interlocking bar.

My invention is capable of considerable modification without departure from its spirit or scope, and it is likewise adapted to be used in connect-ion with various makes and styles of switch stands of the ground lever and skeleton types. It may be used in exactly the same manner for both the skeleton and ground lever type but when being used with the ground lever type I prefer to provide an arm 26 on the foot bearing trip 19 adapted to engage the foot trip 27 of the latch 6 such as is commonly used for locking ground lever switch stands. This permits the releasing of the interlocking bar 11 andthe opening'of the latch 6 for throwing the operating lever 5 simultaneously and at a single operation. This also insures greater safety in the operationof switch stands of this type for the reason that said arm will retain the latch in open position and out of engagement'with the operating lever until the switch is properly closed and interlocked by means of the dog 13 engaging the recess 15 of the interlocking bar 11.

It will be clearly seen that my device is extremely simple and economical to construct and also provides ample interlocking means for switch stands not already provided with some form of interlocking mechanism. Thus it is seen when switch stands are already installed without any interlocking means my device can be installed therewith at comparatively small expense and without the necessity of providing an entirely new switch stand including interlocking mechanism which has been specially designed for use in connection therewith.

I claim:

1. An automatic safety switch lock comprising an interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch, a slotted dog vertidog and having an extension thereon "adapted to engage and operate said latch whereby said dog and said switch stand latch will beoperated simultaneously only.

" ing 7 transverse and vertical slots there-.

said steel 2. An automatic safety switch lock comprising a lower housing having transverse and vertical slots therethrough, a recessed interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch and extending through said transverse slot, an upper housing, a dog extending into said vertical slot and receiving said interlocking bar, an abutment upon the stem of said dog and a spiral spring upon said stem interposed between the abutment and steel plate and a foot bearing trip mounted upon the u per end of said stem, substantiall as set orth and for the purposes speci ed.

3. In an automatic safety switch lock, a

steel plate secured. to the head block, a lower housing secured to said steel plate and havthrough, a recessed interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch and extending through said transverse slot, an upper housing secured to the upper side of plate and having an opening through its top, a slotted dog extending into said vertical slot and receiving said mter- 1 locking bar, an abutment u on the stem of' said dog, aspringagainst said abutment and against said plate and a foot bearing trip mounted upon said stem and projecting over said upper housing, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

4. In an automatic safety switch lock, a housing, an interlocking bar connected to the point rails of a switch, and engaging said housing, a dog mounted in said housing and engaging said interlocking bar, a spring adapted to automatically engage saiddog with said interlocking bar to lock said interlocking bar, a foot bearing trip adapted to release said interlocking bar,\a switch stand connected to the point rails of a switch, a latch for holding the operating lever of said switch standin closed position, and an arm on said foot bearing tri engaging said latch whereby said interloc king ar and said switch throwing lever may be released or unlocked simultaneously b a single opera tion, substantially as set orth and for the purposes specified.

. 5. In an automatic safety switch look, a housing, an interlocking barconnected to the point rails of a switch and engaging said housing, a do mounted in said housing and engaging sai extending lugs on said housing, a foot bearing trip having inwardly extending lugs adapted to engage said outwardly extending lugs, and a spring within said housing adapted to automatically throw said dog into locked engagement with sald interlocking bar, substantially as set forth and for the purposes specified.

FRANK C. ANDERSON. Witnesses:

James N. RAMSEY, Gown: Gonoon.

interlocking bar, outwardly 

